Garysburg, N.C. — A company that makes biomass fuel for energy production announced Thursday that it would open a wood pellet manufacturing plant in Northampton County, creating 62 jobs within three years.

The $60 million Enviva LP plant in Garysburg will have the ability to make 400,000 metric tons of pellets, officials said. The company plans to buy all of its raw materials locally, which could create more jobs in the logging and forestry supply chain, officials said.

The average annual wage for the new jobs will be $38,484, plus benefits. Northampton County's average annual wage is $27,976.

Enviva is building another wood pellet manufacturing plant in Ahoskie and plans to start operations there in October. Company officials said it needs to expand capacity to keep pace with the growing demand for industrial-grade wood pellets from clients across the U.S. and Europe.

“We are thrilled to be expanding our operations in North Carolina,” Enviva Chairman and Chief Executive John Keppler said in a statement. “North Carolina’s leadership is committed to encouraging renewable energy initiatives, and the support of the state and the local Northampton County governments has been critical to the success of this project.”

Enviva qualified for a $300,000 grant from the One North Carolina Fund, which provides financial assistance to attract business projects to the state. Companies receive no money upfront and must meet job and investment targets to obtain the funds.